21 -A STATISTICAL REPORT ON THE FISHERIES OF THE MIDDLE 
ATLANTIC STATES. 
INTRODUCTORY NOTE. 
The following report relating to tlie tislieries of tlie Middle Atlantic States is the 
last of a series of papers on the economic fisheries of the dilferent geographical coast 
sections, emanating from the Division of Statistics and Methods of the Fisheries of 
this Commission. The regions previously covered l>y printed reports were the Xew 
England States, the Pacific States, the Gulf States, and the South Atlantic States, in 
the order named. 
As was the case with the previous similar repoi ts, the present article is based 
entirely on original field inquiries carried on by agents of the Commission. The 
investigations rvere conducted during parts of the fiscal years 1891, 1892, and 1893, 
and the statistics and other information obtained relate to the calendar years 1889, 
1890, and 1891, and, in part, to 1892. The canvass of New York was assigned to 
IMessrs. H. M. Smith, E. E. Eace, and W. A. Wilcox. The fisheries of New Jersey 
were covered by Messrs. II. M. Smith, Ansley Hall, and E. E. Eace. Pennsylvania, 
was visited by Messrs. C. H. Stevenson and E. E. Eace. The waiters of Delaware,, 
tributary to Chesapeake Bay, were canvassed by Mr. Eace; the remainder of the State 
by Mr. Stevenson. The agents reporting on Maryland and Virginia were Messrs. W. A. 
Wilcox, T. M. Cogswell, H. M. Smith, C. E. Ingersoll, C. H. Stevenson, Ansley Hall, 
and E. E. Eace. The special sections of these States investigated by each agent will 
be found recorded in my annual reports for the fiscal years 1891, 1892, and 1893. 
The commercial fisheries of these States are more important than those of any 
other section in the United States in the items of persons engaged in the industry 
and the value of products. The capital invested in the lisheries is, however, much 
less than in the New England States. The returns for the last year covered by the 
statistics show that 99,923 persons found employment in the different branches of 
the industry; $19,318,0(54 was the value of the vessels, boats, apparatus, and other 
property used, and $19,023,474 was the value of the products to the fishermen. 
The special fisheries w’hich in the Middle Atlantic region are noticeably inqior taut 
and suriaiss in value those of all other regions combined are the alewdfe, bluefish, sea 
bass, shad, Spanish mackerel, squeteague, striped liass, wdiite perch, ^yellow perch, 
clam, crab, terrapin, and oyster. The oyster fishery alone is worth $12,400,000, or 
more than one fourth the value of the entire fishing industry of the United States, and 
more than that of the combined fisheries of the New England States. Next to the 
oyster in prominence is the shad, Avitli a value of $1,216,000. 
The report has been prepared by Dr. Hugh M, Smith, assistant in charge of the 
division. In the elaboration and compilation of the field agents’ returns he has been 
aided by Mr. Charles H. Stei^enson, iirincipal office assistant, Mr. S. L. I'ritchard, and 
other members of the divisional force. 
Marshall McDonald, 
Z7. S. Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries. 
339 
